RICK SMITH: New historic mural planned

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Historic Mural of San Angelo is preparing to paint the town again.

“We took a year off, but now we’ve got everything lined up to do our Indian mural,” said Susan Morris, executive director of the nonprofit group.

The mural, featuring historic American Indian tribes from this area, originally was to be painted in the McNease Convention Center on Rio Concho Drive.

When that deal fell through Susan began looking for another wall.

She and a friend were downtown when they spotted the perfect solid white masonry wall in the 200 block of West Beauregard Avenue, not far from the Ranch Mural.

“There’s our wall!” both women said at the same time.

“It’s a good wall in a good spot,” Susan said, estimating that the mural will be 40 feet wide and 20 feet high.

Most of us have no idea what goes into creating the downtown murals.

Deals must be made with the owners of the wall and deed easements drawn up and recorded at the courthouse. Craftsmen then examine the wall, and if necessary, smooth out rough or damaged stucco and prepare it for painting.

Members of the group and the artist do research to make sure what goes up on the wall is as authentic as possible.

Then comes the most difficult part of the process: collecting money to pay for the work.

Susan estimates that the new mural will cost about $20,000. That’s less expensive than the previous murals except for the Blacksmith Mural on South Oakes Street. The money covers preparation of the wall, long-lasting paint from Germany, payment for the artist’s work and other expenses.

“Finding the money is the big challenge,” said Susan, whose group has raised funds for nine previous murals in downtown. Even though donations are tax-deductible, finding funding for even a $20,000 mural takes time and effort.

January’s not the best time for fundraising, she said. “Everyone’s recovering from Christmas spending.”

“If I could find four businesses that would give $5,000 each, we could get it done.”

Susan moved to San Angelo in 1997 and created the local murals group to help revitalize downtown San Angelo and show the area’s history.

It’s working. While the murals certainly didn’t change the downtown district by themselves, they have helped bring color, history and visitors to everything from parking lots to city sidewalks.

The first series of murals was painted by Crystal Kedziora Goodman in 2002. Her “History of Transportation in San Angelo” mural includes a stagecoach, the original Santa Fe Depot, a steam locomotive and early-day local airliner.

My favorite is Crystal’s South Chadbourne Street mural. It shows a 1908 wreck involving a trolley car and a vintage automobile. It looks like you could walk into the lifelike, life-size painting.

Artist Stylle Read has painted the more recent murals, including those featuring West Texas ranching, San Angelo military and Elmer Kelton.

He’s also scheduled to paint the American Indian mural.

Current downtown murals include:

Chadbourne Street Mural: 200 block of South Chadbourne Street.

Blacksmith Mural: Corner of East Concho Avenue and South Oakes Street.

West Texas Ranching Mural: Corner of West Beauregard Avenue and Randolph Street.

Elmer Kelton Mural: South wall of 118 S. Chadbourne St.

Military Mural: 108 E. Concho Ave.

Transportation Mural (Includes a series of four murals): Corner of West Avenue C and South Chadbourne Street, across from the railroad depot.

For more information see Historicmuralsofsanangelo.org, or call Susan at 325-944-1443.